Pitching

Batting

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Gauchos were
able to post six runs over the final three innings of Sunday's
series finale against Cal Poly, but it was not enough to overcome
deficits of 6-0 and 7-2 as the Mustangs hung on for a 7-6 win.

Cal Poly avoided a sweep in the three-game series with Sunday's
win, improving to 20-9 on the year with a 3-3 mark in conference
play. It was the first time this year in four contests that the
Mustangs came out on top at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium, with Cal Poly
taking both games of the series at Baggett Stadium in San Luis
Obispo, Calif. The Gauchos fell to 16-14, 3-3 with the loss.
Outhitting Cal Poly 11-10, it was the first time this season that
UCSB suffered a loss when outhitting the opponent.

It was clearly a tale of two games for the Gauchos, who scored
two runs apiece in each of the final three innings after racking up
just one hit – a bunt single from Cameron
Newell – over the first six innings. Cal Poly starter
Bryan Granger was masterful over that span, striking out three and
facing the minimum. He would end up receiving the win in the game,
moving to 5-2 after his 6 2/3 inning, four-hit, two-run outing.

Despite his early successes, Granger began to show cracks in his
foundation in the seventh inning, losing a notch on his command.
The Gauchos capitalized on that, as Woody
Woodward, Brandon
Trinkwon, and Robby
Nesovic notched three consecutive singles. Nesovic's base hit
would be the end of the day for the Granger, as Cal Poly head coach
Larry Lee made the move to closer Reed Reilly, who would allow a
sacrifice fly to Tyler
Kuresa before escaping the inning.

UCSB continued to take it to Reilly, as catcher Jackson
Morrow led off the eighth inning with a triple, scoring on a
single from left fielder Dalton
Kelly in the very next at-bat. Kelly would advance to second on
another Woodward single, and then score on an RBI single from
Trinkwon.

Trailing by three going into the bottom of the ninth, the
Gauchos came within a base hit of tying the game after an RBI
single from Kelly and a pinch-hit RBI double from Parker
Miles, who was in scoring position with two outs with the top
of the order up. However, Newell was rung up on a 1-2 pitch that
nicked the outside corner for a called third strike, putting an end
to the Gauchos tantalizing comeback.

That comeback likely would not have been necessary if not for a
sloppy start to the game by UCSB. Cal Poly was able to push across
six runs over the first four innings, but only two of those runs
would end being charged as earned to starter Robby Nesovic, as the
Gauchos racked up four errors over the same timeframe. Nesovic
(0-1) would get tagged with the loss after allowing six runs (two
earned) on five hits over 3 1/3 innings pitched with three
strikeouts and one walk.

The UCSB bullpen did an excellent job righting the ship after
the early struggles, combining to throw 5 2/3 innings on one-run
ball. Hector
Lujan, Greg Mahle,
Dylan
Hecht, and Domenic
Mazza all had scoreless outings, with Mazza throwing a hitless
inning for the second consecutive day.

Woodward, Trinkwon, and Kelly each ended the day going 2-4, with
the latter two each picking up a pair of RBIs as well. Newell
extended his team-best hitting streak to nine games with his fourth
inning single.

Next week, the Gauchos will travel to Malibu for a rematch with
the Pepperdine Waves before continuing south for a conference
series with Big West leaders Cal State Fullerton.

When UCSB Baseball heads to the University of San Diego for a
night game on Apr. 16, UCSB Athletics and the Gaucho Fund will host
a "Gaucho Huddle," welcoming UCSB fans to come together and cheer
on the Gauchos.

The event will consist of a pre-game reception, held on the USD
campus at Fowler Park. Beginning at 4:30 p.m., the reception will
include food, beverages, and the chance to meet other UCSB
diehards.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Andy
Graham, Assistant Director of the Gaucho Fund, at gauchofund@athletics.ucsb.edu
or at 805-893-3722.